The Priscilla Netting Book

In 1914 The Priscilla Publishing Company added The Priscilla Netting Book to their list of craft publications.  It was edited by Belle Robinson.  There are several locations where this book may be found on-line;  The Hathi Trust Digital Library, The Open Library, On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics, and Internet Archive, to name four.  While much of the information is related to lacis or net embroidery, both on square-mesh as well as diamond-mesh, some patterns and stitches are not.  Most of the patterns and stitches include illustrations.

1. Netting (page 3)
2. Equipment - with illustration (page 3)
3. To Work Netting - with illustration (page 4)
4. Figures 6 and 9 - To make circular netting - with illustration (page 5)
5. Figure 10 - To make a circular netting by increases - with illustration (page 6)
6. Lace - with illustration on page 10, 37 - fig 85 (page 10, item 601)
7. Centerpiece - with illustration (page 11, item 602)
8. Doily - with illustration (page 11, item 603)
9. Doily - with illustration (page 12, item 604)
10. Netted Cape Collar - with illustration (page 14, item 608)
11. Netted Round Yoke - with illustration (page 15, item 609)
12. Centerpiece of Square and Circular Netting - with illustration (page 19, item 613)
13. Centerpiece - with illustration (page 20, item 615)
14. Netted Centerpiece - with illustration (page 25, item 620)
15. Netted and Embroidered Doily - with illustration (page 26, item 621)
16. Netted and Embroidered Doily - with illustration (page 26, item 622)
17. Wide Netted Edging - with illustration (page 27)
18. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 27)
19. Doily - with illustration (page 28, item 623)
20. Doily - with illustration (page 30, item 624)
21. Doily - with illustration (page 30, item 625)
22. Doily - with illustration (page 30, item 627)
23. Netted Bow - with illustration (page 32, item 626)
24. Centrepiece in Gros Filet - with illustrations (page 32, item 628)
25. Doily - with illustration (page 33, item 629)
26. Doily - with illustration (page 34, item 630)
27. Netted Scallop - with illustration on page 32 (page 37, item 631)
28. Insertion - figure 64 - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
29. Insertion - figure 65 - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
30. Insertion - figure 66 - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
31. Insertion - figure 67  - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
32. Edging - figure 68 - with illustration on page 33 (page 48)
33. Netted Scallop - with illustration on page 33 (page 48, item 632)

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Last week I mentioned that I had five more ornament ball covers to photograph.  By the time the week was over and I had finished the netting and photography, there were a few more than five.  My son made quick work of posting them online, and there are now 31 unique net ornament ball covers for you to look at.

Tatting and Netting by Butterick Publishing Company

In 1895,  Butterick Publishing Company added a lace-making book to their list of publications.  Tatting and Netting, as its title indicates, covers the topics of tatting and netting.  The first half of the book is devoted to tatting; the last half, to netting.  Rather than describing the netting information included in this book, I've listed the descriptive headings used in the book:

1. Method of Making a Hammock or a Tennis-net - with illustrations (page 77)
2. Square Netting - with illustrations (page 81)
3. Oblong Netting - with illustration (page 81)
4. Square in Meshes of Two Sizes - with illustration (page 82)
5. Square of Netting Begun at the Middle - with illustrations (page 82)
6. Strips of Straight Netting - with illustrations (page 82)
7. Straight Netting with a Pointed Edge - with illustration (page 82)
8. Angular Edge for Handkerchief Borders, Etc.  - with illustrations (page 83)
9. Wire Frame for Embroidering Netting  - with illustrations (page 84)
10. Circular Netting of Long and Short Loops   - with illustration (page 85)
11. Circular Netting Formed by Increases or Widenings - with illustration (page 85)
12. Loose Loops in Clusters  - with illustrations (page 85)
13. Swiss Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 86)
14. Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 87)
15. Square Diamond Netting  - with illustrations (page 87)
16. Diagonal Netting with Crossed Loops  - with illustration (page 87)
17. Rose Netting in Stripes  - with illustrations (page 88)
18. Diamond Pattern  - with illustrations (page 88)
19. Diagonal Netting   - with illustration (page 89)
20. Star-Netting - with illustration (page 89)
21. Round Netting  - with illustrations (page 90)
22. Open Twisted Netting  - with illustrations (page 90)
23. Bunch Netting  - with illustration (page 91)
24. Grecian Netting   - with illustration (page 91)
25. Looped Netting  - with illustration (page 92)
26. Loose-Loop Pattern  - with illustration (page 92)
27. Design in Long and Crossed Loops (page 92)
28. Oriel Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
29. Fancy Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
30. Stripe Netting - with illustration (page 93)
31. Honeycomb Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
32. Leaf Netting   - with illustration (page 94)
33. Spike Netting   - with illustrations (page 94)
34. Spider Netting   - with illustrations (page 95)
35. Double Leaf Netting  - with illustrations (page 95)
36. Beaded Netting (page 95)
37. Mosaic Netting  - with illustration (page 96)
38. Stripe for Shawls, etc - with illustration (page 96)
39. Stitches and Designs for Darning Netting (page 97)
40. Netted Scollop - with illustration (page 107)
41. Netted Lace  - with illustration (page 107)
42. Pointed Edging - with illustration (page 108)
43. Trimming, with Thick Loops and Fan Edge - with illustration (page 108)
44. Netted Insertion - with illustration (page 108)
45. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 109)
46. Netted Fringe  - with illustration (page 109)
47. Netted Trimming - with illustration (page 109)
48. Netted Scollop - with illustration (page 110)
49. Pointed, Net Edging - with illustration (page 110)
50. Netted Lace - with illustration (page 111)
51. Netted Insertion - with illustration (page 111)
52. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 111)
53. Netted Border, with Fringe - with illustration (page 112)
54. Edging in Double Fan or Sheaf Design - with illustration (page 112)
55. Netted Fringe - with illustration (page 112)
56. Border in Rose and Sheaf Pattern  - with illustration (page 113)
57. Tassel Fringe - with illustration (page 113)
58. Netted Scollop for Borders - with illustration (page 113)
59. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 114)
60. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 115)
61. Netted Pointed Lace - with illustration (page 115)
62. Netted Border, with Fringe - with illustration (page 116)
63. Netted Lace - with illustration (page 116)
64. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 116)
65. Netted Guipure Insertion (pages 114, 115, 117, 118, 154)  - with illustrations
66. Netted Guipure Lace (pages 110, 111, 114, 115, 117, 118) - with illustrations
67. Bureau Toilet-Set - with illustration (page 119)
68. Cracker Doily - with illustration (page 119)
69. Finger-Bowl, Doily, with Netted Border - with illustration (page 120)
70. Doily, with Nbetted Border and Embroidered Center - with illustration (page 121)
71. Netted Tumbler Doily - with illustration (page 121)
72. Platter Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 122)
73. Table-Mat or Center-piece with Netted, Fluted Edge - with illustration (page 123)
74. Netted Mat - with illustrations (page 124)
75. Netted Wheel, for Decorating Scarfs (page 124)
76. Netted Mat  - with illustrations (page 125)
77. Platter Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 125)
78. Netted Finger-Bowl Doily - with illustrations (page 127)
79. Netted Mat  - with illustrations (page 127)
80. Plate Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 128)
81. Plate Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 129)
82. Plate Doileys, with Netted Borders - with illustrations (page 130)
83. Round Doily - with illustrations (page 131)
84. Netted Doileys - square with rose netting edging - with illustrations (pages 131, 132)
85. Rond Center-piece for table (page 132)
86. Netted Tumbler Doily - with illustration (page 133)
87. Netted Doileys - square with different edgings  - with illustrations (page 133)
88. Doileys with Netted Borders - with illustrations (page 134)
89. Netted Doily - with illustrations (page 135)
90. Netted Doily - with illustrations (page 135)
91. Carving Cloth with Netted Border  - with illustrations (page 135)
92. Netted Doily - with illustration (page 135)
93. Netted Doily, with Linen Center - with illustration (page 136)
94. Netted Doily - with illustration (page 136)
95. Finger-Bowl Doily - with illustration (page 137)
96. Square Center-Piece for Table - with illustration (page 137)
97. Netted Square - with illustrations  (pages 137-142)
98. Netted Scarf or Throw - with illustrations (page 143)
99. Infant's Netted Cap - with illustrations (page 144)
100. Work-bag, with Netted Cover - with illustrations (page 144)
101. Corner of a Netted Shawl - with illustrations (page 145)
102. Netted Mouchoir or Photograph Case - with illustrations (page 146)
103. Netted Border for Handkerchief - with illustrations (page 146)
104. Letter Box - with illustrations (page 147)
105. Directions for Netting a Seine  (page 147)
106. Netted Shawl - with illustration (page 148)
107. Netted Book Cover - with illustrations (page 148)
108. Netted Tab - with illustration (page 149)
109. Netted Lappet for Caps, etc - with illustration (page 149)
110. Directions for Half of Netted Collar - with illustration (page 150)
111. Netted Cover for Bon-Bon Dish - with illustration (page 151)
112. Directions for Making Netted Curtains (page 151)
113. Netted Tie - with illustration (page 152)
114. Netted Scollop for Scarfs - with illustration (page 152)
115. Bag for Holding Tennis Balls (page 152)
116. Netted Neckerchief - with illustration (page 153)
117. Netted Seine - with illustration (page 153)
118. Plum Basket - with illustration (page 153)
119. Netted Silk Purse (page 153)

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Many years ago, when I was trying to discover uses for netting other than doilies, I saw some satin ornament balls that were covered in crochet.  Each ball was beautiful.  I decided to try the same thing with netting.  

This week, as I looked at the balls I had not given away as Christmas gifts, I realized that I needed better pictures.  In taking the photos, I noticed that not all the patterns I had created were represented.  So I've been netting the missing ball covers, while my son has been posting the ones I photographed.  

I still need to make one more and then photograph them; he still has more to post, but while we're doing what we need to do, you can look at the ornaments that are posted. 

The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Needle-work and Embroidery by Miss Lambert

In 1859, Miss Lambert published another needlework book, The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Needle-work and Embroidery.  While items 1-28 listed below appear in her earlier books, items 29- 41 are not included in either of her other books.

1. Netting (page 15)
2. Plain Netted Gentleman's Purse (page 228)
3. A Lady's Purse (page 229)
4. A Gentleman's Purse with Ends of Different Colours (page 229)
5. A Lady's Purse with Points (page 229)
6. A Pretty Purse with Chine Silk (page 230)
7. Netting With Beads (page 230)
8. A Plain Netted Purse with a Bead Mouth (page 230)
9. A Pretty Seme purse with steel or gold beads (page 231)
10. An Elegant Netted Purse with Steel Beads (page 231)
11. Plain Netted Mittens (page 232)
12. A Knitter's Bag with Ring (page 232)
13. A Checked or Dice Pattern Purse (page 233)
14. Grecian Netting, or Filet Rose (with illustration) (page 233)
15. A Purse in Grecian Netting (page 234)
16. Mittens in Grecian Netting (page 234)
17. Netted Fringe (page 235)
18. Single Diamond Netting (with illustration) (page 235)
19. Treble Diamond Netting (page 236)
20. Diamond Netting of Five Stitches (with illustration) (page 236)
21. Seme Purse, Diamond Pattern (page 238)
22. Plain Open Netting, or Filet a Baguette (page 239)
23. Fond de Berlin (in French) (page 239)
24. Filet Rose (in French) (page 240)
25. Filet a Baton Rompu (in French) (page 240)
26. Filet Rond (in French) (page 241)
27. Netted Mittens with Silk and Wool (page 241)
28. Netted Cuff with Silk and Wool (page 242)
29. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 301)
30. Long Net Purse for a Lady (different pattern) (page 301)
31. Round Netting for a Gentleman's Long Purse (page 302)
32. Honeycomb Netting for Veil (page 303)
33. Very Pretty Long Grecian Net Purse for a Lady (page 304)
34. Grecian Net for a Veil (page 305)
35. Single Diamond Netting (page 306)
36. Diamond of Five Stitches for a Long Purse (page 306)
37. Dotted Net (page 308)
38. French Ground Net (page 309)
39. Scollop for Borders of Veils, Collars, Caps, Etc. (page 310)
40. Another Scallop for Border (page 310)
41. Scollop (page 310)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Since I  have only one of my grandmother's patterns left to make, and that one is over 38 inches in diameter, I decided to make some smaller doilies for a few weeks.  There are still many doilies I designed that need to be made again so I can photograph the entire doily instead of photocopy just a rectangular portion.

I started this one, Double Star, during the afternoon I was demonstrating at the Connecticut Sheep, Wool, and Fiber Festival.  

This doily was originally the result of two questions:

1. How would a 5-pointed star look in the center of a doily? 
2. Can I make a doily with only 5 points for its edge?

Many of my grandmother's doilies had centers with multiple points.  Those centers all had more than 5 points.  She had also made several doilies with multiple points along the edge, but none with only 5 points.  The answer was this 13 inch doily.

The Practical Companion to the Work-table by Elizabeth Jackson

The best digitized copy I could find for The Practical Companion to the Work-table Containing Directions for Knitting, Netting & Crochet Work by Elizabeth Jackson is located here.  Even though it is missing pages 14 and 15, which tell how to use the knitting needle gauge she has pictured in her book, at least it has all the netting patterns, which some online copies do not seem to have. This copy of the book was published in 1845.

These netting patterns all include the material and the mesh to be used.  Care needs to be taken, though, when selecting the mesh.  The numbering starts with the largest size at 1 and the smallest at 26.

1. Remarks on Netting (page 135)
2. Netted Mittens (page 137, item 89)
3. Netted Mittens (page 138, item 90)
4. Netted Border for a Cap (page 139, item 91)
5. Tulip Purse (page 140, item  92)
6. Purse in Points (page 141, item 93)
7. Handsome Long Netted Purse (page 143, item 94)
8. Netted Long Purse (page 144, item 95)
9. Round Netted Gentleman's Long Purse (page 144, item 96)
10. Round Netted Mat (page 145, item 97)
11. Netted Scarf (page 146, item 98)
12. Round Netted Scarf (page 146, item 99)
13. Netted Cuffs (page 147, item 100)
14. Netted Cuffs (page 147, item 101)
15. Netted Half Square Handkerchief (page 148, item 102)
16. Netted Cardinal Cape (page 149, item 103)
17. Scallop for Veil Borders, &c (page 150, item 104)
18. Scallop for Curtains, &c (page 150, item 105)
19. Single Diamond Netting (page 151, item 106)
20. Grecian Netting (page 151, item 107)
21. A Round Netted Purse (page 153, item 108)

Last week I mentioned I had received an email from Solange Oliveira.  What I did not mention was that she included in her email some net jewelry.  I wanted to get her permission to share these photos before I posted them.  These works of art are from a group of women in the city of Marechal Deodoro, in the state of Alagoas, Brazil.

Corresponding with someone who speaks a different language is a challenge.  Google Translator is fine for an overview but is poor when it comes to specifics like types of laces.

When describing what type of lace these ladies made, Solange wrote in Portuguese, "O nome de artesanato e 'clareza de Renda' e é igual ao italiano faça chamado 'ad Puntino atrás' na cidade de Latronico. O artesanato que faço chama Renda turco, mas é semelhante ao Singeleza de Renda."

Google translated it as, "The name of handicrafts and 'Income Plainness' and is equal to the Italian make called 'ad Puntino ago' in the city of Latronico. The crafts I make calls Income Turkish, but is similar to Income Plainness."

Hoping for some clarity, I contacted my son who lived in Brazil for about two years.  He replied with this translation, "This type of craft/art is called 'Clearness of Lace, or Lace Clarity', which is the same as the Italian art called 'ad Puntino atras' from the city of Latronico.  The craft I make is called Turkish lace, which is similar to Single Lace (or Solitary Lace)."

He also added, "The translation problem with the craft names is that I haven't really met anyone who does these in English.  If I recall correctly, Turkish lace is similar to macrame, but not identical.  Clearness of Lace could be something as simple as needlepoint, knitting, or netting, since I never met anyone who called it that while in Brazil, and don't have the photos.  Renda can mean lace, but there's a feel there of a woven (or worked) textile as well."

Whatever you call it, it is beautiful and demonstrates something else that can be made with netting.

The Ladies' Work-table Book (2nd ed)

Recently I discussed the netting patterns and instructions found in The Ladies' Work-table Book.  The on-line copy was published in 1845.  Today I picked up the second edition of The Ladies' Work-table Book to list the netting information it contained.  I was surprised to notice that the online version of the second edition was published in 1844.

The netting information found in the two books is not identical.  Some of the information and patterns are worded differently.  Some patterns included in the first edition are not in the second edition, and there are some new patterns in the second edition.  Here is what the second edition contains for netting:

1. Netting (page 158) [this introduction contains a brief history of netting]
2. Plain Netting (page 160)
3. Bead Stitch (page 162)
4. Diamond Netting  (page 163)
5. Diamond Netting, of Five Stitches (page 163)
6. Grecian Netting (page 164)
7. Shaded Silk Netting (page 164)
8. Dotted Netting  (page 165)
9. French Ground Net (page 165)
10. Honeycomb Netting (page 166)
11. Honeycomb Netting, with Two Meshes (page 166)
12. Another Kind of Honeycomb Netting (page 167)
13. Leaf Netting (page 167)
14. Maltese Netting, in Spots (page 168)
15. Plain Open Netting (page 169)
16. Round Netting (page 169)
17. Shaded Silk Netting (page 170)
18. Honeycomb Mittens (page 171)
19. Netted Cuffs (page 172)
20. Netted Opera Cap (page 173)
21. Netted Scollop Edging (page 174)
22. A Plain Scollop (page 175)
23. Cap Border Scollop (page 175)
24. Net Cravat (page 175)
25. A Net Scarf (page 176)
26. A Long Purse, in Points (page 176)
27. Netted Wool Scarf (page 177)
28. Small Half Neckerchief (page 177)
29. Square Wool Neckerchief (page 177)
30. Netted Mittens (page 178)
31. Netted Fringe (page 179)
32. Striped Netted Purse (page 179)
33. Round Netting Purse (page 180)
34. A Purse, in Points (page 180)
35. Netted Curtain (page 180)
36. Curtain for a French Bed (page 181)

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

This week I got an email from Solange Oliveira. She lives in Brazil and has a website devoted to netting.  As I looked at her website again, I was reminded that many of her decorations are made with a stitch I have named Tufts.  She is very creative with that stitch, and I really liked one of her variations.  To be able to refer to it easily, I have called it Tufts Eyelet Decorative Stitch.  This week I decided I would try to make that stitch using a #3 size knitting needle, which is equivalent to a 1/8" flat mesh stick.

It did not look like this before it was starched.  The hole in the middle of the Tufts did not appear.  So, I made another sample.  This time I used a #8 knitting needle, which is the same as a 1/4" flat mesh stick.

Once I starched the stitch, I could see the hole in both of the samples, though I like the first one better.  Solange Oliveira has several patterns on her website which use this stitch.

The Ladies' Work-Table Book

The book I chose for today, The Ladies' Work-table Book; Containing Clear and Practical Instructions in Plain and Fancy Needlework, Embroidery, Knitting, Netting, and Crochet, was published in 1845 in Philadelphia by G. B. Zeiber & Co.  There is no author listed.

Chapter 14, which includes an "Explanation of Stitches" on page 125, contains instructions for and a picture of the following stitches:

1. Plain Netting (page 126)
2. Bead Stitch (page 127)
3. Diamond Netting (page 128)
4. Diamond Netting, of Five Stitches (page 128)
5. Dotted Netting (page 129)
6. Shaded Silk Netting (page 129)
7. Grecian Netting (page 130)
8. French Ground Net (page 130)
9. Another Kind of Honeycomb Netting (page 130)
10. Honeycomb Netting (page 131)
11. Honeycomb Netting, with Two Meshes (page 131)
12. Leaf Netting (page 132)
13. Net with Points (page 132)
14. Maltese Netting, in Spots (page 133)
15. Plain Open Netting (page 133)
16. Round Netting (page 133)

Chapter 15, "Netting," contains the following different examples in netting:

1. A Purse, with China Silk (page 135)
2. A Seam Purse, with Beads (page 135)
3. A Netted Bag, with a Ring (page 135)
4. Dice Pattern Purse (page 135)
5. Honeycomb Mittens (page 136)
6. Netted Cuffs (page 137)
7. Netted Cuff with Silk and Wool (page 137)
8. Netted Fringe (page 138)
9. Netted Opera Cap (page 138)
10. Netted Scollop Edging (page 139)
11. Plain Netted Gentleman’s Purse (139)
12. A Lady’s Purse (page 139)
13. Plain Netted Mittens (page 139)
14. A Plain Scollop (page 140)
15. Cap Border Scollop (page 140)
16. Net Cravat (page 141)
17. A Net Scarf (page 141)
18. A Long Purse, in Points (page 141)

It's been a few months since I attended a baby shower.  The shower I went to this week was the first one I've attended for a new little girl in over a year.  I celebrated by making pink and red bibs to go into a small circular net bag.

Mrs Gaugain's Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Book

Listed below are the netting patterns that are contained in Mrs Gaugain's Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Ckrochet Book.  This book was published around 1843.  The netting patterns appear similar to those in The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work which was also by Mrs Gaugain.

1. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 55)
2. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 56)
3. Round Netting for a Gentleman's Long Purse (page 57)
4. Honeycomb Netting for Veil (page 58)
5. Very Pretty Long Grecian Net Purse for a Lady (page 60)
6. Grecian Net for a Veil (page 62)
7. Single Diamond Netting (page 63)
8. Diamond of Five Stitches for a Long Purse (page 64)
9. Leaf Netting (page 66)
10. Dotted Net (page 67)
11. French Ground Net (page 68)
12. Scollop for Borders of Veils, Collars, Caps, &c (page 69)
13. Another Scollop for Border (page 70)
14. Scollop (page 71)

Today my 3rd son is getting married.  I let them choose the center, stitches and edge for a doily I created for them.  Here is a photo of the doily I made.  We named it Sun Kissed.